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Airlines move to improve crash avoidance systems
December 16, 1997
This animation shows how the system could alert planes of danger
Web posted at: 1:05 p.m. EST (1805 GMT)WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most U.S. airliners will get an upgraded crash avoidance system that will keep pilots better informed of when they are in danger of flying their planes into the ground, an industry group has announced.
Airlines plan to voluntarily retrofit 4,300 planes -- the majority of airliners now flying the United States -- with Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems, in advance of a federal mandate on the systems expected next year, the Airline Transport Association said Monday.
"Accidents in which aircraft run into the ground or mountains are the number one global aviation safety problem," said Carol B. Hallett, head of the ATA, the airline industry trade group.
The system is hoped to prevent accidents like the 1995 crash of an American Airlines jet into a mountain near Cali, Colombia, or the August 1997 crash of a Korean Air jumbo jet into a hill short of the runway in Agana, Guam. The Colombia crash killed 160 people; more than 200 people died in the Guam crash.
New system to provide warning sooner
Animations demonstrate the ground warning system 1.7MB/23 sec./320x240
830K/23 sec./160x120
QuickTime movieCurrent ground warning systems on aircraft measure the distance from the plane to the ground and sound an alert just seconds before a collision. In some cases, such as when a pilot erroneously turns toward a mountain, the warning may allow too little time to recover.
The new system uses Global Positioning Satellites, radar, and a map of the terrain to give pilots a three-dimensional view of objects in front of the plane, as well as underneath it.
"This is crucial, because planes crashing into mountains or ground account for a quarter of all accidents across the world," said Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater.
Should a plane appear to be in imminent danger of running into oncoming terrain, the system verbally alerts the pilot to the threat -- and it can alert the pilot seven to 10 miles away from potential obstacles, earlier than the existing system would.
At about four miles, it provides a yellow display on the screen with an audible warning, "Caution, terrain." And at about two miles, the screen turns red and the system says, "Terrain, pull up."
Already in use on some planes
The new technology might prevent accidents like this crash in Guam in August The system costs about $93,000 per jet. Already, the system has been installed on 135 American Airlines planes, the ATA reported. Alaska and United Airlines have installed the systems on 18 planes each, and Delta Air Lines has them on four aircraft.
FAA Administrator Jane Garvey downplayed questions of dependency on one manufacturer, saying at least one other company, Teledyne, has been developing an alternative system which might also meet the future government mandate.
By the year 2003, all commercial aircraft with six seats or more will be flying with the enhanced warning systems onboard, giving pilots a better picture of conditions around them, and creating safer flying conditions for their passengers.
Correspondent Ann Kellan contributed to this report.
Related stories:
- Pilot error focus in Guam crash - August 8, 1997
- Korean Air jetliner crashes in Guam - August 5, 1997
- Probe: 'Inexcusable' errors caused Cali crash - January 31, 1996
- American Airlines jet crashes in the Andes - December 21, 1995
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